
		- MODEM LOG ANALYSER -	v2.0 [02/10/98]

		Copyright  Richard J. Bowater
		E-Mail: energy@ricb.demon.co.uk


	REQUIREMENTS:
		Internet connection through the standard Windows Dialup

	FILES INCLUDED IN mla.zip:
		file_id.diz		brief description of file (for BBSs)
		readme.txt		you're reading me now
		mla.exe			Modem Log Analyser main program
		mla.ini			MLA initialization file




	WHAT IS THE MODEM LOG ANALYSER?

The Modem Log Analyser (MLA) does as its name suggests: analyses (examines) your modem log file - that's the standard Windows Dialup log - in its illegible format [figure 2], and presents it to you in a cleaner style [figure 3].


	BEFORE USING MLA

Before you can even use the modem log analyser, you must create a modem log file!  NOTE: This will only work if you're using the standard Windows Dialup to connect to the Internet.  If you use any other program, it may have its own logging feature which will be wholly incompatible with MLA.
Follow these instructions to set up the log file:

1. You require that log file recording be switched ON.  To do this, first find a file called "Scripter.exe" (or just "Scripter" if visible file-extensions is turned off) - probably in your "Windows" directory.  If not, don't panic, just use the Windows "Find" utility (in the start menu) to track the file down.
2. Run the Scripter.  Click "Properties", the "Configure", then the "Connection" tab, and finally "Advanced"!  Then simply tick the "Record a log file" box (if it's already ticked, you've just wasted the past half-hour :).  Click all the "OK"s to exit.
3. Don't bother looking for it yet, you still have to connect to the 'net to start logging.  Be careful when logging off too - don't carelessly turn your modem straight off by the switch - click "Disconnect", or it might not log properly.
4. Now go to your Windows directory (e.g. C:\Windows) and your newly conceived log should be there under the name "ModemLog.txt" (if not, try that "Find" program again).  May as well take a look at it (with NotePad, or any other plain text editor), prove to yourself that you can't make much of that gibberish, without MLA's help!  It will match the basic layout in Figure 2 - the lines "Dialing.", "Hanging up the modem.", and "Session Statistics:" being the keys here.
5. Time to let MLA do its stuff now!  Wait, don't forget to fill out the initialization file (mla.ini), which must be in the same directory as MLA.  Open it with your text editor and make sure all the details are correct.


	USING MLA

The program is all very self-explanatory, but I'll still clarify all the main points.  Figure 1 depicts MLA's menu.  Simply key in your choice, and press return.  A quick overview: '0' takes you straight out of MLA; '1' allows you to single out a day from your log, instead of wading through the linear listing of the following two options; '2' lists all entries in the log chronologically, while '3' lists the most recent first; '4' totals up everything [see figure 4]; '5' is the Graphs feature, unfinished and buggy at the moment, but it'll give you a simplistic, at-a-glance look at your modem usage in the form of a bar chart.


[ FIGURE 1 - main menu ]
        0) EXIT
        1) Day
        2) All days - old to recent
        3) All days - recent to old
        4) Totals
        5) Graphs
       >


[ FIGURE 2 - the core of each logged session in the modem log file ]
09-06-1998 22:11:34.48 - Dialing.
09-06-1998 22:11:34.48 - Send: ATDT###########<cr>
09-06-1998 22:11:59.09 - Recv: <cr><lf>CONNECT 28800/ARQ/V34/LAPM/V42BIS<cr><lf>
09-06-1998 22:11:59.09 - Interpreted response: Connect
09-06-1998 22:11:59.09 - Connection established at 28800bps.
09-06-1998 22:11:59.09 - Error-control on.
09-06-1998 22:11:59.09 - Data compression on.
09-06-1998 22:12:05.33 - 57600,N,8,1
09-06-1998 22:31:52.69 - Hanging up the modem.
09-06-1998 22:31:52.74 - Hardware hangup by lowering DTR.
09-06-1998 22:31:53.51 - Recv: <cr><lf>NO CARRIER<cr><lf>
09-06-1998 22:31:53.51 - Interpreted response: No Carrier
09-06-1998 22:31:53.51 - Send: ATH<cr>
09-06-1998 22:31:53.68 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
09-06-1998 22:31:53.68 - Interpreted response: Ok
09-06-1998 22:31:54.39 - Session Statistics:
09-06-1998 22:31:54.39 -                Reads : 1610227 bytes
09-06-1998 22:31:54.39 -                Writes: 86825 bytes
09-06-1998 22:31:54.39 - Sportster 28800 (Sweden) closed.


[ FIGURE 3 - MLA's output of day's sessions broken into readable chunks ]
                Online  Offline Time    Cost    Down.   Up.     Effic.
Sun  6-Sep      10:12pm 10:32pm 00:20   0.20    1572k   84k
                11:47pm 12:49am 01:02   0.93    10386k  200k
                        Total:  01:23   1.13    11.7mb  0.3mb   69/2%


As can be seen in figure 2, each day/date will be output by MLA, proceeded by each entry, and its constituents, namely: Online and Offline time (time of connect and disconnect); Time online, in hours and minute; the Cost (based on the call prices in the initialization file); and, Downloads (reads into your computer) and Uploads (writes out of your computer).  These figures are totaled and placed in the bottom row, with the additional Efficiency column (percentage of your modem's possible Downloads/Uploads you actually downloaded/uploaded - take particular note of the Downloads efficiency, 69% here, which isn't bad).


[ FIGURE 4 - Totals for all entries in current modem log file ]
Totals for  6-Sep to 27-Sep (16/22 days online)
        Time:   15 hours 57 mins
        Cost:   14.68
        Average Cost per day:   0.92 / 0.67
        Downloads/Reads: 125.3mb  Uploads/Writes: 8.6mb
        Efficiency of your  28kbit modem:  64% downloads  4% uploads


Just to clarify, in Figure 4 Totals: "16/22 days online" means 16 days in which the modem was used, out of 22 days since the current modem log was created; "Average Cost per day" gives two figures: one corresponding to the average amount spent on each of those 16 days online, the other, the average over the full 22 days.  Everything else is once again, self-explanatory.


[ FIGURE 5 - accessing alternate modem log file]
	mla -f [logfilename]


Figure 5 shows the usage of the command line option '-f', which enables the quick access of an alternative modem log, perhaps one of many you have copied to a new directory.
This feature was prompted when I discovered a limiting feature of the modem log file: it can only hold so many entries before it ceases to record them.  To get around this I've placed a warning in MLA that will activate when the modem log reaches a certain size.  At this point you should think about either deleting the file, or moving it to MLA's directory, where you can access past entries with the aforementioned command line argument.  For convenience, I suggest you store your log files monthly or quarterly, or whenever you receive your phone/Internet bills.




	TROUBLE-SHOOTING

  If you read all the above carefully there should be no problem; otherwise send me a bug report... and any new feature suggestions you feel inspired to share.


	BUGS

Most should have been eliminated in my extensive debugging, but if any still happen to afflict it, you must contact me immediately (at above email address), lest they breed!


[ FIGURE 6 - corrupted logs ]
                09:51pm 09:51pm 00:00   0.00    0k      0k

Logs that appear as in Figure 6, with online and offline times equal, and all else zeroed, indicate that the offline time wasn't logged; probably because you didn't log off properly.




	MLA IS FREEWARE, SO WHY'D I WRITE IT?

I wrote it because I needed such a program to keep track of my Internet usage, and I released it into the public domain because I know there are many of you who're in the same boat.  Thanks to the few who've contacted me, and made the helpful suggestions that have taken it from scraggy version 1.0, to the versatile little program it is now.
And please, if you find it useful, let me know; it'll spur me to develop it further, and perhaps write more such utilities.



	LIABILITY
The author and the developer of this software will not take responsibility for any damage that may result from the use of this software.  The files contained in mla.zip are distributed "as is" and without any expressed and implied warranties.  The user assumes the entire risk of using the software.

	DISTRIBUTION
        MLA may be freely distributed if the following conditions are
        obeyed: 
        1. Copyright notifications must not be altered in any way.
        2. All documentation files must be included with the
           distribution file.
        3. If any modification is made to any of the files, part that
           was modified must be explicitly stated with the name and
           contact address (E-mail, street address, or phone number) of
           the person who made the modification.
	   It is necessary to state this in the program description.
	4. If this program is to be mentioned or included in any
           publication, it is necessary to state mla.zip copyright
           information.
        6. MLA must be distribution on a medium that is not copyprotected.


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     Microsoft Corporation in the United States of America and other
     countries.  Other brand and product names are trademarks or
     registered trademarks of their respective holders.

